Gophers volleyball ranked 7th in preseason poll

The University of Minnesota volleyball program has been ranked as the No. 7 team in the country in the American Volleyball Coaches Association’s preseason poll.

It’s the seventh consecutive year and the 108th time in program history in which the Gophers have been ranked a top-10 national team in the poll.

Ten of Minnesota’s 2021 opponents also appeared in the poll, including five other Big Ten teams: Texas (No. 1), Wisconsin (No. 2), Nebraska (No. 5), Florida (No. 6), Purdue (No. 8), Baylor (No. 10), Ohio State (No. 11), Penn State (No. 12), Oregon (No. 14) and Stanford (No. 21).

Last season, Minnesota went 16-3 and earned the No. 3 national seed in the NCAA Tournament.

The Gophers open the season against Baylor on Aug. 27.